Can Michael Vick lead a star-studded Philadelphia Eagles team to the NFC championship game?

The Denver Post on Thursday will release a 16-page Broncos and NFL preview, breaking down team needs and John Elway’s vision for where the team will head. Find it in a special print section and online at denverpost.com/broncos.

Their offensive plans, which now include QB Kevin Kolb throwing to a $120 million receiver in Larry Fitzgerald, took a hit when RB Ryan Williams suffered a ruptured tendon in his knee in the preseason. Their two-deep is a huge question mark. Former Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson tore a biceps tendon, and they lack a top-shelf pass rusher. Prediction: 9-7

St. Louis Rams

They have a potential franchise QB in Sam Bradford, who was cocooned in two-tight end and two-back looks last season as a rookie, but will not have that luxury this year in Josh McDaniels’ more open formations. They haven’t shown they can protect their most prized player in this preseason, and their run defense is an enormous question mark. Prediction: 6-10

Seattle Seahawks

After sitting on the sidelines in the QB derbies that were free agency and the April draft — they secured Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst — their offense sputtered through much of the preseason. The offensive line is a concern, especially in front of two quarterbacks still trying to prove they can be NFL starters. Prediction: 5-11

San Francisco 49ers

They have a nice view of the work Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck — the 2012 draft’s likely No. 1 pick — will do. Luck’s former coach, Jim Harbaugh, turned up the heat for the 49ers in the preseason with plenty of full-contact work in practice just to see what he had. He likely got his answer — not much. They will have to rely on a defense that is strong at linebacker and hope for the best. Prediction: 4-12
NFC EAST

Philadelphia Eagles

For all of the money they spent in free agency — led by the monster deal for CB Nnamdi Asomugha — they exited the preseason with significant questions at right tackle, which happens to be left-hander Michael Vick’s blind side. That’s no small issue, especially if Winston Justice’s surgically repaired knee doesn’t improve. Prediction: 11-5
Dallas Cowboys

The time is now for QB Tony Romo. His stats are glossy with a 95.5 career passer rating — fourth all-time among those with enough starts — a 39-22 record as a starter and 64.1 percent completion rate. But Romo still is trying to convince many he’s the kind of leader who can lift a good team to great wins. He will have a better defense in his corner with Rob Ryan calling the shots. Prediction: 9-7

New York Giants

They didn’t do much in free agency, lost WR Steve Smith without so much as a chance to make him an offer, had GM Jerry Reese say the team would make the playoffs only to backpedal, and QB Eli Manning said he was in the same class as Tom Brady. Bottom line: One of their best pass rushers had knee surgery, and they may play in the most difficult division in the league. Prediction: 8-8

Washington Redskins

Mike Shanahan’s offense will struggle if he has missed his bet that RBs Tim Hightower and Roy Helu can handle the job. Also, things look sketchy out wide with Jabar Gaffney and Anthony Armstrong among the team’s top three WRs. There isn’t much depth on defense, and a few injuries up front will derail things significantly. Prediction: 7-9

A young, deep team with a franchise QB in Aaron Rodgers showed a willingness to tweak things. The offense flashed a no-huddle look in the preseason that is sure to be a headache-in-waiting for defensive coordinators. The biggest dilemma is their propensity to get Rodgers punished in the pocket. He has been sacked at least 31 times in each of the past three seasons, and the Packers gave up nine sacks in their first two preseason games. Prediction: 12-4

Chicago Bears

It remains to be seen if this team’s optimism is outpaced by its troubles in the offensive line. It surrendered nine sacks in one preseason game. The Bears also have a lack of depth at linebacker and a questionable secondary. Jay Cutler looks fit and ready at QB and has some potential help in WR Roy Williams and RB Marion Barber, but there are some significant question marks for this playoff hopeful. Prediction: 9-7

Detroit Lions

QB Matt Stafford was borderline incredible in the preseason. The next step is for this team to keep its prized passer on the field for an entire season. He has started only 13 games in his two seasons because of injuries. The defense will play with an edge, and Ndamukong Suh likely will continue his climb into the defensive elite. This team hasn’t had a winning record since 2000. Prediction: 9-7

Minnesota Vikings

First-year coach Leslie Frazier will try to add a little physical nature to a team that has not always shown it in recent seasons despite having RB Adrian Peterson. The passing game may feature backs and tight ends as primary options more than the team’s faithful are used to, but in this division they can’t take too many chances. Prediction: 6-10

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons

NFL personnel executives like how this team is trending, but many still believe it lacks enough team speed on defense to consistently push into legitimate Super Bowl contention. The Falcons have tried to fix it, but may need one more non-lockout offseason. They also open the season against five straight playoff teams from 2010. Prediction: 12-4
New Orleans Saints

The Saints traded a second-round pick in the 2010 draft and their first-round pick in 2011 to get RB Mark Ingram. Ingram gives this team another Super Bowl shot if QB Drew Brees stays healthy. Their offseason workouts were immense 40-player affairs, and they feel their time is now. The biggest blip may be a defense that didn’t always tackle well in the preseason. Prediction: 12-4

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Sobering reality alert: Yes, they are coming off a 10-win season they believe foretells good things to come, but nine of those wins came against teams with losing records. The Saints and Falcons are formidable roadblocks, but QB Josh Freeman is a savvy player with an enormous upside. Prediction: 7-9

Carolina Panthers

The league’s worst offensive team in ’10 had to choose between a second-year QB who was ineffective at times in the preseason — Jimmy Clausen — and a rookie QB who was ineffective at times in the preseason — Cam Newton — before giving the nod to Newton. Prediction: 2-14

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.